The Yuchae Blossom Page 8

  Thirteen

  THE WEEKS rolled by, and the warm sun and longer days announced summer’s arrival. Jack found that he did everything he could to be with Woo-bin. Bike rides became a staple on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and meals continued in the kitchen, just the four of them. His Jeju family. Byung-soo woke up the house on a Monday at 1:00 a.m., yelling and crying as he rushed off to the hospital. Four hours later, his wife gave him a healthy baby boy. He called Jack with the news at 5:00 a.m., and Jack had to hand the phone to Woo-bin, who translated. Byung-soo would be out of work for the rest of June, and Woo-bin had agreed willingly to be his driver once more until Byung-soo’s return. Jack couldn’t have been happier. At the end of a long and prosperous workweek, as they rode their bikes home from the site, Woo-bin told Jack that he would be making dinner for him and Choon-hee on Sunday.

  “We should go to the market together. I can help you cover the cost of the food and whatever else you need.”

  “No, Jack. I have set aside money for just this.” Woo-bin smiled.

  Jack smiled. “Okay. It’s your show.”

  “My show?”

  “Figure of speech. Meaning it’s your chance to shine.”

  “Ah.” Then as they pulled into the drive and dismounted, Woo-bin considered him, cocking his head slightly. “I could use help carrying the bags, though.”

  “Oh. I see.” Jack regarded him, donning a serious look. “So, I’m to be your packhorse, is that it?”

  Woo-bin blanched, then blushed deeply. “No, Seonsaengnim! I was just thinking because you wanted to help….”

  Jack was laughing out loud now. Woo-bin’s brow furrowed. “Jack. You’re teasing me again, yes?”

  He put a hand on Woo-bin’s shoulder and gave is a gentle squeeze. “Sorry. Yes.”

  Woo-bin smirked slightly, and then that lopsided smile appeared, and he began to laugh softly. “I don’t know if I will ever get used to that.” He rested his hand on Jack’s and their eyes met. Jack’s heart again began the race—sprinting, jumping—all out for the finish. The garage door began opening, and both men dropped their hands. Choon-hee stood there, spoon in hand.

  “Why you stand in driveway? Get clean for dinner. It almost ready.” She looked back and forth between both of them, then turned and headed back into the house. The moment, whatever was about to happen, was gone. Woo-bin dipped his head, bangs sliding across his forehead. Jack watched him as he walked his bike into the garage.

  “Coming?”

  “Uh-huh,” he said, nodding. It would never become rote. That smile, his voice, him. And he knew it. And he was grateful.

  MONDAY MORNING, Missy called him early, before he left for work, to let him know that GM Lee Yong-geun would be visiting the property again at 9:00 a.m., but that meant he would be there at eight. He sighed as he hung up, mentally thanking his valuable sidekick. It was now six, and he stumbled down the hall in his pajama bottoms and knocked on Woo-bin’s door.

  “Ne.”

  “Woo-bin, it’s me, not Choon-hee.”

  There was the sound of movement, and then the door opened. Woo-bin stood there in a black—and what looked like silk—robe, open, revealing a slight, muscular chest, skin—smooth and clean—and pearl-colored pajama bottoms. His eyes were full of sleep and his hair tousled. And the scent of him. God.

  “We have to be in by seven. GM Lee is visiting the property today.”

  Woo-bin’s eyes widened. “I will shower and dress right now and be ready in fifteen minutes.”

  “Don’t worry, take thirty minutes, and we will still have time to stop and get a coffee and red bean buns on the way.” He had to resist the urge to run his hands through Woo-bin’s hair, smoothing it. Woo-bin must have sensed it, as he self-consciously ran a hand through his hair.

  “Okay, Jack.”

  Jack nodded as he headed back to his room. He didn’t hear Woo-bin’s door shut until he had almost reached his own. Was he watching me? He hoped so. As he stepped into the shower and the warm water ran over his shoulders, he imagined Woo-bin in front of him, hands against the shower wall, pressing his backside into him as Jack slowly kissed his neck and ran his hands over Woo-bin’s tight stomach to his full, smooth pecs. Standing there, his eyes closed, he grasped his cock and began to slowly stroke it. He imagined what it would be like to kiss Woo-bin, to hold him in a tight embrace as he penetrated him. His smell, his voice rasping with pleasure as he whispered Jack’s name, the sound of Woo-bin’s breath quickening as Woo-bin reached climax and then, he came. “Uhh… uhhh… ahh… Jesus.” He looked down at himself. Stiff and throbbing. His hard-on wasn’t subsiding easily. Not enough to just think of him. I need him. In my bed. Finishing his shower and coaxing his excited friend back to sleep, he dressed and went out to the car, where Woo-bin was waiting, dressed in his old uniform complete with hat, smiling and holding the door open for Jack. This no longer bothered him. He smiled back, looking at Woo-bin’s lips. Remembering where he was ten minutes ago, he sat quickly before someone woke up again. Woo-bin closed his door. As Jack glanced out the car window, he tried not to notice how Woo-bin’s ass looked as he took his hat off and raised his hand to run it through his hair, which raised his jacket, just enough. He thought of Gavin again. This was the second time in his life he had come thinking about another man.

  GM LEE spent most of the day with Jack. Reviewing upcoming development phase completion dates and the budget, and touring the property. Even though Jack was Lee Yong-geun’s superior, he knew that he was the eyes and ears of the executive director, and he didn’t want any more friction between them. The incident with the annex property at Hallasan had not earned Jack any points. If anything, just the opposite.

  “I’ll be relocating to Jeju as of the first of next month.”

  Great. “There’s not a lot going on in August. Just the completion of the main building’s exterior. Phase three begins mid-September.”

  “Good. That gives me a couple of months to settle in, yes? We can spend more time together doing what we’ve been doing long-distance. Traveling back and forth wears on one. My family will be joining me as well.”

  “Ah. I’ll have Ms. Argent see to it that your residence is cleaned and staffed prior to your arrival.”

  “I appreciate that, Jack.”

  They were walking through the gardens that comprised an area the size of a small park and were housed within the center of the main complex, which consisted of the hotel, convention center, and a mall with all the current and popular high-end stores and eateries. All under a huge domed glass roof.

  “Ms. Cho Soo-na as well? I’ll have an office in the temporary admin building prepared for her also.”

  “That won’t be necessary. She is no longer with Chapel.”

  “Well, that’s unfortunate. She seemed nice, and efficient.” Got caught, did you? “I’ll have HR find a replacement and have he or she on staff when you get here.”

  “Not necessary. I’ll take care of it at some point. I can utilize Ms. Argent and your driver. What’s his name?”

  “Woo-bin. Song Woo-bin.”

  “That’s right. You rehired him, or should I say rescued him?”

  “He has enough on his plate working for me and handling things as site manager.”

  “I am still at a loss as to why you felt he was right for that position.”

  Jack stopped and turned to face the GM. “He was doing the job without being asked, so I promoted him. Nothing more than that.”

  “I see. Well, if he is that good, I am sure he can handle his job and the occasional task of being my sijong. You relieved him of that position and he no longer works for you in that capacity, yes?”

  Jack exhaled slowly as his blood pressure rose, his hands gradually tightening into fists. God, I want to punch you square in the fucking face. “Woo-bin no longer works as my valet. He is, however, filling in for my current driver indefinitely.”

  “Good. Then when he is not taking care of you, I will utilize his servi
ces, within reason given his duties as site manager. Agreed?”

  Jack nodded but, he wanted to scream no. There was no real reason that Woo-bin couldn’t also work for Lee Yong-geun. It was the way of the working culture in South Korea.

  “Good. Let’s have lunch. I’m in the mood for seafood. Have Song Woo-bin bring the car. I need to make a call, but I will meet you out front in fifteen minutes.” The GM smiled, baring his teeth like a cheetah again.

  Jack pulled out his cell and dialed Woo-bin’s number. He suspected that Lee Yong-geun was up to something. “Woo-bin, would you bring the car and meet me at the hotel’s main entrance? The GM and I are going out for seafood.”

  “Yes, Seonsaengnim.” Woo-bin paused, then, “Is everything all right, Jack?”

  Woo-bin very rarely called him Jack except at home, and when and if they were alone. “Yes. Fine. The general manager is, I’m fine. Just bring the car around front, okay?”

  “Ne.”

  GM Lee was already waiting when Jack came through the revolving doors. He was watching intently as three women, all part of the design team, squatted to pick up what looked like the contents of a spilled portfolio. All were wearing short skirts. Of course. Woo-bin had gotten out of the car and was helping them, his pants hugging his ample backside as he too squatted alongside them. As Jack approached him, the GM dropped his cigarette and stamped it out. Jack looked at him and then at the smoldering butt.

  “What?”

  “That.” Jack nodded toward the trash receptacle for smokers just a few feet from where they stood.

  The GM sighed, bent, and retrieved the butt, then placed it in the tall black outdoor ashtray. “Better?”

  “Yes. The staff works hard to keep the place clean.”

  “Just ensuring they have something to do,” he said.

  At that point Woo-bin was standing before them, silent, eyes averted. The GM acknowledged him, and Woo-bin bowed, arm extended toward the car.

  The GM headed for the car, and Jack smiled inwardly as Woo-bin straightened, their eyes meeting. He smiled quickly, nervously, at Jack and then headed to open the rear door. The GM was staring at them. Jack ignored him as he passed, entering the car and sliding across the back seat. The GM slid in next to him.

  “Song Woo-bin, we will eat at Sanho Jeonbok.”

  “Ne, Seonsaengnim.”

  “Anything special about this place?” Jack tried to catch Woo-bin’s eye in the rearview.

  “It’s close to the new site for the spa. I think you will like it. Less deforestation. Less of an invasion into… nature.”

  Woo-bin started the car, and they headed down the drive toward the main road. Jack didn’t necessarily like or trust that this new location was going to be any less of a problem than the last. The lesser of two evils?

  They arrived at the small eatery. Lee Yong-geun assured Jack that they served the best seafood stew. Jack wasn’t planning to eat that much. The two men headed in while Woo-bin stood by the car.

  “Want me to bring you something?” Jack looked at Woo-bin.

  “No, Seonsaengnim. I am fine.” He smiled and nodded.

  Jack met Woo-bin’s eyes again.

  “Uh-hmm.” Lee Yong-geun was standing next to Jack. He looked from Jack to Woo-bin, then back at Jack. He seemed amused.

  Raising an eyebrow, Jack nodded toward the door. The GM laughed softly.

  “Is there a problem?” Jack asked.

  “No. No problem.” GM Lee then headed into the restaurant.

  Jack followed, shaking his head in mild frustration.

  The meal was mercifully quick, and Jack ordered a medium bowl of jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup). Woo-bin’s favorite. As they reached the car, Jack handed the bag to Woo-bin along with chopsticks and a spoon. “Eat and take your time. The GM and I will talk for a bit.” He nodded toward a picnic table with an umbrella. He and Lee Yong-geun both sat.

  “You are good to your employee.”

  “I am good to all of my employees.” Jack paused as he studied the GM, trying to gauge him. Other than the obvious, he was difficult to read. “Lee Yong-geun, I’ll ask you again. Is there a problem?”

  “No. Why?”

  “Because you are constantly making comments regarding how I treat Song Woo-bin or the time I spend with him. I’m just wondering.”

  “No. It is of no consequence to me how you relate to your… employee or employees. It is just… I find it curious, the relationship. He is a subordinate, and I understand that you’re an American and things are done differently in the corporate environment there. So, I mostly attribute it to that.”

  Jack looked at him, at his expression. “Mostly?”

  The GM lit a cigarette and offered one to Jack.

  “I don’t smoke.”

  The GM shrugged. “Well, there are times that you seem almost… affectionate towards him.”

  That crossed the line. Jack felt his anger building. Where does this fucker get off? He could feel the blood as it pulsed through his temples. Just as he was thinking about reaching across the table, he sensed Woo-bin’s presence behind him.

  Lee Yong-geun glanced at Woo-bin as he stood behind Jack and let out a half laugh, half cough before dropping his cigarette to the ground, stamping it out. He looked at Jack defiantly.

  Jack returned his gaze, the anger he felt completely expressed in his eyes. If they were weapons…. “We aren’t on company property.” He looked to where the butt was smoldering. “However, this is your country. Disrespect it as you see fit.”

  Jack stood.

  Lee Yong-geun followed, that oily smile tugging at the corners of his troublesome mouth. He moved past Jack, heading to the car. Woo-bin followed behind him to open the door.

  Jack eventually made his way to the car, sliding in beside the GM. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.

  “Take us to the spa site.” The GM had the window open and was smoking another cigarette.

  “Ne.” Woo-bin closed the door.

  The ride was quiet and noxious.

  Fourteen

  IT SEEMED to be becoming a routine—now that Byung-soo was back to work—not seeing Woo-bin all day. Neither did he see him after he returned home from the office. Missy had said that the GM had Woo-bin running his personal errands. This made Jack fume. One night Woo-bin returned home accompanied by two friends from work that he was spending time with, on and off. Han Cheol-min, a handsome, taller man, most likely slightly younger than Woo-bin himself, was an electrical engineer and part of the staff that Woo-bin managed, as was Lee Eun-seo, beautiful and Cheol-min’s age, one of Chapel/Seoul’s interior design team. Jack had met them once before when he had taken Woo-bin and the two out to lunch. Woo-bin immediately came into the kitchen where Jack was seated having a cup of coffee with Choon-hee.

  “Seonsaengnim.” Woo-bin bowed.

  “Woo-bin?” A million questions.

  “May my friends have dinner with us?” He looked at Jack, then at Choon-hee.

  Jack looked at Choon-hee.

  She nodded.

  “Sure. Did you need me to pick up anything for you?” he asked Choon-hee.

  “No, Seonsaengnim. We have everything we need.” Choon-hee stood. “I will call you when food is ready.”

  “Thank you.” Woo-bin bowed again and rejoined his friends, and they headed off to his room.

  Jack felt his gut tighten. They would eat, drink, and sing, and he himself would spend the night alone in his room. He sighed, standing.

  Choon-hee patted his back. “He need to spend time with those his own age. They understand each other. This custom here. People of same age together. People not same age, not so much.”

  Jack shoved his hands into his pockets.

  She looked at him. “I like Ms. Argent. She someone you should consider.” Choon-hee smiled.

  Jack left her to the dinner preparations and went to his room. He stopped at his door, listening. He could hear voices and soft laughter coming from Woo-b
in’s room down the hall. Moving closer to the door, he could hear their conversation in Korean. Then Woo-bin began to play his guitar, and what sounded like Eun-seo began to sing. Jack went back to his room to sulk.

  Choon-hee served dinner in the dining room. Woo-bin sat across from him, Cheol-min to Woo-bin’s left, and Eun-seo next to him. They mostly spoke in English, but every now and then Cheol-min spoke quietly to Woo-bin in Korean.

  Jack spoke to Cheol-min. “How’s progress on the theater?”

  “Almost completed, Division Manager Calloway.”

  Jack nodded. “The finish work on the lobby atrium is magnificent. You and your team worked hard, Lee Eun-seo-shi.”

  “Thank you, Division Manager Calloway. There is much room for improvement. I feel as though we need to redo the dome and the lighting.”

  “Why is that?” Jack noticed that Cheol-min had his arm around the back of Woo-bin’s chair.

  “The lighting is still an issue. The lobby is still too dark. Even during midday.”

  “Ah. Well, I trust that you will do the right thing and our guests will be pleased.”

  “Ne, Division Manager.”

  The conversation was inane. And Jack was nothing but frustrated and jealous by what he perceived to be Woo-bin and Cheol-min’s budding friendship. “Please excuse me. I need to make a call.” As he stood, Woo-bin looked at him. Their eyes met. Jack turned away and left the dining room. Back in his room, he grabbed a bottle of soju from the mini fridge and went to sit by the water. The surf was strong as the waves thrummed against the shore, sea and foam rushing up almost touching his feet. He could feel the salt spray as it washed over him. He took a swig from the bottle and wrapped his arms around his legs. It was too late to turn back, and he couldn’t deny his feelings. They were as real as the pulse in his neck, the beat of his heart. Still… am I gay? It wasn’t as if he was constantly looking at guys or fantasizing or jerking off thinking about them. Only Woo-bin and Gavin. Sigh. The moon was sliding in and out of a partly cloudy sky, its brightness in sharp relief against the patches of star-laced obsidian. He watched as its reflection played hide-and-seek with the waves. Again, he was struck by the beauty of Jeju Island. Loneliness settled into his soul.